### Lab Protocol: Extraction of DNA from Bananas

#### Objective:

To isolate and extract DNA from banana cells for observation and analysis.

#### Materials:

- Ripe banana (1-2)

- Dish soap (10 mL)

- Salt (1 teaspoon)

- Isopropyl alcohol (chilled, 100 mL)

- Water (distilled or tap, 100 mL)

- Measuring cups and spoons

- Small bowl or beaker

- Ziploc bag or plastic bag

- Cheesecloth or coffee filter

- Test tube or small glass container

- Wooden stick or stirring rod

- Mortar and pestle (optional)

- Graduated cylinder

#### Safety Precautions:

- Wear gloves and goggles to avoid direct contact with the chemicals.

- Use caution when handling alcohol, especially near open flames or heat sources.

- Always dispose of materials according to your lab’s safety protocols.

#### Procedure:

1. **Preparation of Extraction Solution:**

- In a small bowl or beaker, prepare the extraction solution by mixing:

- 100 mL of water

- 1 teaspoon of salt

- 10 mL of dish soap

- Stir gently until the salt dissolves and the solution is uniform.

2. **Preparing the Banana:**

- Peel the banana and cut it into small pieces (approximately 1-inch chunks).

- Place the banana pieces in a Ziploc bag.

- Seal the bag tightly and gently mash the banana using your fingers for 1-2 minutes to break up the
cells.

3. **Mixing with Extraction Solution:**

- Add 40-50 mL of the extraction solution to the bag with the mashed banana.

- Seal the bag again and gently knead the mixture for another 2 minutes to ensure the banana cells are
broken open and mixed well with the solution.

4. **Filtering the Mixture:**

- Open the Ziploc bag and pour the mixture through a cheesecloth or coffee filter into a clean
container (e.g., a test tube or small beaker).

- Squeeze gently to extract as much liquid as possible. This liquid contains the cell debris and DNA.
5. **DNA Precipitation:**

- Pour about 10-20 mL of chilled isopropyl alcohol into the container with the extracted liquid.

- Slowly pour the alcohol down the side of the container to form a separate layer on top of the
aqueous solution.

- DNA will begin to precipitate at the interface between the alcohol and the liquid.

6. **Observation:**

- After a few minutes, you should see white, stringy, or clumpy material forming in the alcohol layer.
This is the banana DNA.

- Use a wooden stick or stirring rod to spool (twirl) the DNA out of the solution.

7. **Analysis and Cleanup:**

- Examine the extracted DNA. It may look like white, stringy strands or clumps.

- You can further analyze the DNA under a microscope or store it for future use.

- Discard the remaining materials according to your lab’s disposal protocols.

---

#### Tips for Success:

- The alcohol must be cold to help DNA precipitate.

- Do not shake the mixture too vigorously, as it could break up the DNA and make it harder to observe.

- The more banana pieces you mash, the more DNA you'll have to extract.

#### Conclusion:

This experiment demonstrates how DNA can be successfully extracted from plant cells, specifically from
bananas, using simple household materials. This procedure illustrates the basic steps involved in
isolating DNA for analysis.
---

#### Cleanup:

- Dispose of used materials (banana, extraction solution, alcohol, etc.) properly.

- Clean all lab equipment with water and soap.

- Wash hands thoroughly after handling materials.

Sure! Here's an outline for both a **lab protocol** on extracting DNA from bananas and a
**presentation plan** for a science fair in front of parents.

### **DNA Extraction from Bananas - Lab Protocol**

**Objective**: To extract visible DNA from a banana using common laboratory materials.

#### Materials:

- 1 ripe banana

- 100 ml of water

- 10 ml dishwashing liquid (detergent)

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 70% Isopropyl alcohol (chilled)

- Coffee filter or cheesecloth

- Plastic bag (zip-lock or similar)

- Measuring cup

- Beaker or cup

- Stirring rod or spoon

- Pipette (optional)

- Gloves (optional for cleanliness)

#### Procedure:

1. **Preparation**:

- Peel the banana and break it into small pieces.

- Place the banana pieces into the plastic bag and seal it.

2. **Smashing**:

- Gently mash the banana pieces in the bag for about 2-3 minutes. This will break open the cells and
release the cellular contents.

3. **Preparing Extraction Solution**:

- In a beaker, mix 100 ml of water with 1 teaspoon of salt and 10 ml of dishwashing liquid. Stir to
dissolve the salt. The salt helps the DNA to stick together, while the detergent breaks down the cell
membranes and releases the DNA.

4. **Mixing with Solution**:

- Add the mashed banana to the extraction solution and gently mix for another 1-2 minutes. Make sure
the banana is fully submerged.

5. **Filtering**:

- Pour the mixture through the coffee filter or cheesecloth into a clean container to filter out the solid
banana pieces. The liquid that passes through contains the DNA.

6. **Precipitating DNA**:
 - Carefully pour cold isopropyl alcohol down the side of the container with the filtered liquid. You
should pour it slowly to form a layer on top of the solution. DNA precipitates (clumps together) when it
comes into contact with alcohol.

7. **Observing the DNA**:

- After a few minutes, you should see white, stringy material floating between the alcohol and the
liquid. This is the banana DNA.

- Use a stick or pipette to spool (gather) the DNA. You can observe it and even touch it (it will feel
slimy).

8. **Clean-Up**:

- Dispose of all waste properly, wash your hands, and clean the equipment used.

---

### **Science Fair Presentation Plan for Parents**

**Title**: *Banana DNA Extraction: Unlocking the Secrets of Life from a Banana*

---

#### **Slide 1: Introduction**

- **Title of the Project**: “Extracting DNA from Bananas”

- **Your Name** and Grade Level

- **Overview**: Briefly explain the objective—"Today, we are going to show how we can extract visible
DNA from something as common as a banana!"
---

#### **Slide 2: What is DNA?**

- **Simple Definition**: "DNA is like a blueprint that tells living things how to grow and function."

- **Fun Fact**: "Bananas, like all living things, have DNA inside their cells!"

- **Visuals**: Show a simple image of DNA (a double helix structure).

---

#### **Slide 3: Why Bananas?**

- **Reason**: "Bananas are easy to work with because their cells are large, and they contain a lot of
DNA."

- **Fun Fact**: "Bananas have around 40% of the same DNA as humans!"

- **Visuals**: Picture of a banana, maybe with a diagram of cells inside it.

---

#### **Slide 4: Materials**

- **List**: Present the materials you used, such as a banana, water, dish soap, salt, alcohol, and a coffee
filter.

- **Fun Fact**: “You don’t need fancy lab equipment to extract DNA; you can do this at home!”

---

#### **Slide 5: Step-by-Step Process**

- **Step 1: Mashing the Banana**

- **Step 2: Mixing with Extraction Solution**

- **Visual**: Show how to mix water, salt, and soap together.

- **Step 3: Filtering the Mixture**

- **Visual**: Show a coffee filter separating the solid from the liquid.

- **Step 4: Adding Alcohol**

- **Visual**: Show the alcohol layer forming above the solution, where DNA precipitates.

---

#### **Slide 6: What Happens Next?**

- **Explanation**: "When the alcohol meets the liquid, the DNA comes out of the solution and forms
visible clumps."

- **Visual**: Photo of the DNA clumps floating between the alcohol and solution.

---

#### **Slide 7: The Science Behind It**

- **Explanation**: "DNA is made up of molecules that are tightly packed inside cells. We used soap to
break open the cells and salt to help the DNA stick together. The alcohol made the DNA come out of the
solution because DNA is not soluble in alcohol!"

- **Visuals**: A simple diagram showing how DNA is extracted from a cell.

---

#### **Slide 8: Observing the DNA**

- **Fun Fact**: "While we can't see all the tiny details of DNA, we can observe it in a way that shows
how it works inside every living cell."

- **Visuals**: A close-up image of the DNA strands in the container.

---

#### **Slide 9: Why is This Important?**

- **Explanation**: "DNA extraction is a key step in genetic research. It helps scientists study how
organisms grow, evolve, and even develop new medicines!"

- **Visuals**: Show how DNA extraction can be applied in science (e.g., for cloning, medicine, forensics).

---

#### **Slide 10: Conclusion & Questions**

- **Summary**: "We’ve successfully extracted DNA from a banana! We used basic materials, and now
we can see the DNA that makes bananas (and all living things) unique."

- **Encourage Questions**: "Does anyone have any questions about how we did it or why it's
important?"

---

### **Tips for Presentation in Front of Parents:**

1. **Engage your audience**: Start with a question like, “Have you ever wondered what makes a
banana… a banana?”

2. **Keep it simple**: Parents may not be familiar with scientific jargon, so explain everything clearly
and simply.
3. **Use visuals**: Show photos and diagrams to illustrate each step and make your points clearer.

4. **Demonstrate the process**: If possible, have a video or live demo of the DNA extraction in action.

5. **Practice**: Rehearse the presentation to make sure you're confident and calm.

By following these steps, you’ll have both a detailed protocol for the experiment and a structured,
engaging presentation for the science fair!

### **Lab Protocol: Testing of Heavy Metals in Water Using Common Lab Chemicals**

**Objective**:

To detect and measure the presence of heavy metals in water samples using basic laboratory reagents.

### **Materials Required**:

- Water sample (containing unknown heavy metals)

- Reagents:

- Sodium sulfide (Na₂S)

- Potassium ferrocyanide (K₄[Fe(CN)₆])

- Nitric acid (HNO₃)

- Hydrochloric acid (HCl)

- Ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl)

- Ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH)

- Test tubes or small beakers

- Distilled water

- Pipettes

- Stirring rods

- Protective gloves, goggles, and lab coat

- Filter paper (optional for sample purification)

### **Procedure**:

1. **Sample Preparation**:

- Collect a sample of the water to be tested in a clean container.

- If needed, filter the sample to remove any debris or particulate matter.

2. **pH Adjustment**:

- Measure the pH of the water sample using pH strips or a pH meter.

- If the pH is not between 6.0 and 7.5, adjust it by adding dilute nitric acid or ammonium hydroxide
until it reaches the desired range.

3. **Addition of Sodium Sulfide** (for detecting Lead, Cadmium, and Copper):

- Add 2-3 drops of sodium sulfide (Na₂S) to the water sample.

- Stir gently and observe the color change.

- A **yellow precipitate** indicates the presence of **lead (Pb)** or **cadmium (Cd)**.

- A **black precipitate** indicates the presence of **copper (Cu)**.

4. **Addition of Potassium Ferrocyanide** (for detecting Iron):

- Add a few drops of potassium ferrocyanide solution to the sample.

- Stir and observe the color.

- A **blue color** indicates the presence of **iron (Fe)** (Prussian blue formation).
5. **Confirmation with Ammonium Chloride & Ammonium Hydroxide** (for detecting other metals like
Nickel or Zinc):

- Add 1-2 drops of ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) followed by ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH).

- If a precipitate forms, the sample may contain **zinc (Zn)** or **nickel (Ni)**, which form a white
precipitate under these conditions.

6. **Final Observation and Analysis**:

- Record the color changes and the formation of precipitates for each metal.

- Compare the results to known standards or reference materials for confirmation.

7. **Waste Disposal**:

- Dispose of all chemical waste according to local regulations.

- Ensure proper cleaning of all glassware and instruments.

### **Safety Precautions**:

- Always wear protective gloves, goggles, and a lab coat.

- Handle acids and chemicals with care.

- Work in a well-ventilated area or use a fume hood when handling volatile chemicals.

- Dispose of all chemical waste properly.

---

### **Presentation for the Science Fair (In front of Parents)**

**Slide 1: Introduction**

- **Title**: *Testing of Heavy Metals in Water Using Common Lab Chemicals*

- Briefly discuss why water testing is crucial for ensuring safe drinking water.

---

**Slide 2: Heavy Metals in Water**

- **What are heavy metals?**

- Elements like lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and iron (Fe) that are toxic in high concentrations.

- Sources: industrial waste, mining runoff, contaminated water sources.

- **Why is testing for heavy metals important?**

- Toxicity can cause health problems like kidney damage, neurological disorders, and developmental
issues in children.

---

**Slide 3: Materials & Chemicals Used**

- **List of Materials**:

- Water sample

- Sodium sulfide (Na₂S)

- Potassium ferrocyanide (K₄[Fe(CN)₆])

- Ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH), etc.

- **Chemicals are commonly found in the lab and help us detect specific metals in water.**

- Briefly explain each reagent’s role.

---
**Slide 4: Experiment Setup**

- **Step-by-step procedure** with visuals of test tubes, pH meter, and reagents.

- Show the process of adding chemicals to the sample and looking for color changes or precipitates.

- Explain how to interpret results (e.g., a yellow precipitate for lead or cadmium).

---

**Slide 5: Safety in the Lab**

- **Wear protective gear**: gloves, goggles, and lab coat.

- **Handle chemicals carefully**: acids and chemicals can be dangerous.

- **Proper disposal of waste** to ensure safety and environmental protection.

---

**Slide 6: Results**

- **Visuals of results**:

- Show examples of different colors or precipitates formed after adding reagents.

- Explain the significance of each result:

- Yellow = lead or cadmium

- Blue = iron

- Black = copper

- Emphasize how easy it is to detect heavy metals using common chemicals.

---
**Slide 7: Conclusion**

- **Key Takeaways**:

- Heavy metals in water pose a serious risk to health.

- Simple laboratory techniques using readily available chemicals can be used to detect these metals.

- **Importance** of regular water testing in ensuring safe drinking water.

---

**Slide 8: Thank You**

- **Invitation for questions** from parents and judges.

- **Discuss future implications**: How these experiments can be improved or used in larger-scale
environmental studies.

---

This format provides a clear, concise, and educational way of explaining the science behind the testing
process while keeping it engaging for parents and fair judges.